headnote
Summary before text
A headnote is a brief summary or explanatory note placed at the beginning of a document, chapter, or legal case.
In legal writing, headnotes appear before court opinions to summarize key points of law: The headnote indicated the case dealt with Fourth Amendment issues.
In publishing, headnotes introduce sections or provide context for what follows.
summary
Condensed version of text
- synopsisCondensed version of content
- overviewBroad general summary
- briefShort in duration
- outlineSummary of key elements
digest · precis · compendium · condensation · recapitulation · encapsulation · gist · summary
legal
Condensed legal overview
- court opinionJudge's formal written ruling
- citationMention of a source
- precedentPrior authoritative example
- syllabusCourse plan document
abstract
Condensed version of text
outline · digest · precis · compendium · condensation · recapitulation · encapsulation · gist · summary · annotation
case summary
Condensed legal overview
- court opinionJudge's formal written ruling
- citationMention of a source
- precedentPrior authoritative example
syllabus · holding · disposition · reporter
- book partspage, pages, cover, index, chapter
- summariessummary, synopsis, summaries, abstract, abstracts
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- citationscitation, citations, cite, cited, citation style
- court rulingsrulings, divorce decree, judgments, annulment, verdicts
- appealsappeal, appellate court, court rulings, case law, legal precedents